After leading Notre Dame to the national title game last season, Marcus Freeman is on a mission to win the natty. And now, because of his coaching excellence and tradition, ND is on the brink of securing one of its most significant recruiting victories in 13 years! All thanks to Freeman, the team might secure top defensive playmakers in the 2026 class. With over 30 offers on the table and official visits lined up, the moment of truth has finally arrived.
Fresh insights from Steve Wiltfong on On3 Recruits reveal that Notre Dame is in contention for five top-tier recruits. At the forefront is five-star edge rusher Rodney Dunham from Charlotte, scheduled to announce his commitment on April 10th.
Now, the 6’4, 215-pound freak has his eyes rolling over Marcus Freeman’s program after his unofficial visit on March 22. As Wiltfong says, “He said if you’re smart enough about it, it sets you up for life. He said there’s no school that compares with Notre Dame. His top five are Duke, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Notre Dame. Intel says it’s the Irish and Bulldogs at the top.” In 2024, as a junior at Myers Park, he showcased an impressive performance with 39 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 16 QB hurries, five sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. The prior year was even more outstanding, with 55 tackles, 16 TFLs, 20 pressures, and seven sacks as a sophomore.
Then there’s Great Bend 4-star TE Ian Premer, who’s also very impressed with ND’s coaching staff. Moreover, he is pretty interested in the program. As Wiltfong says, “Mike Denbrock, that Notre Dame offense, the tight end tradition that they’ve had in South Bend, all appealing things, plus what Notre Dame offers off the field, the Irish are trying to become one of the front runners for Ian Premer.”
This guy dominated as a sophomore, making 32 catches, 538 yards, and 9 TDs as a receiver, along with 64 tackles, 4 interceptions, and a defensive touchdown as a safety. Additionally, he averaged 21.2 points and 9.2 rebounds in basketball. Despite visits to Miami and Michigan, he is considering offers from Kansas, K-State, Mizzou, and Oklahoma, with Notre Dame pursuing hard on him. Now, it’s all about his next move.
Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Pat Coogan (78), head coach Marcus Freeman, and offensive lineman Rocco Spindler (50) react after losing against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
But even if Premer’s position lies in uncertainty, there’s another four-star monster, Jordan Thomas from Bergen Catholic, who’s locking his eyes on Marcus Freeman’s program. He visited the campus over the weekend and seems pretty satisfied. As Steve Wiltfong mentioned, “It was amazing. Him and his family enjoyed their time getting to meet the coaches in person, guys like Mike Mickens getting to speak to current and former players, learning about Notre Dame’s great culture and tradition.” But teams like Michigan, Ohio State, and Texas A&M are also making a push toward him. Despite that, for now, ND remains his top secondary.
Now, Premer is not the only one appreciating Notre Dame’s tradition and culture. There’s another guy on their radar, Ayden Pouncey, the 4-star baller from Winter Park, who’s also leaning towards it. As highlighted by Wiltfong, “He just said Notre Dame’s a special place, and he loves all the tradition there. He talked about Coach Freeman being a former player at Ohio State in the big games he played in said he was one of his favorite head coaches.” Now, On3 gives a 48.2% chance to Miami for landing him and just 6.5% to ND, but who knows, the table might shift in the future.
Here comes the last nail in Marcus Freeman’s recruiting trail, and that’s the linebacker of the 2027 class, who was also on campus this weekend. And that’s Josh Cooper Whitten. Now, what makes his recruitment push interesting is what Wiltfong revealed, saying, “Josh Cooper Whitten. That’s a guy they want to build that class around. He is as high on Notre Dame’s board, regardless of position, in that junior class.“ But Marcus Freeman isn’t the one going desperately to land all of them.
Marcus Freeman’s balanced recruiting approach
In today’s modern era of college football, NIL has become a prominent factor. However, Marcus Freeman is not just focused on recruiting stars from the transfer portal. He is emphasizing building a strong foundation from the ground up. As he shared with Adam Breneman, “We’ve always said we’re going to major in high school recruiting. That will be the foundation of our program.” This strategy preserves Notre Dame’s culture while also bringing in top-tier talent to the team.
Despite the influence of NIL, Freeman is not turning a blind eye to the realities of modern recruiting. He is, however, staying true to his core values. “The reality is that the players will be getting paid,” he acknowledged. “And they should. What I don’t want to see is players making decisions based off on how much money they’re going to get. But if you focus on being a great player, you should be paid according to your value.”
The balance of development, culture, and NIL is transforming Notre Dame into a top destination. Close to 100 prospects from the 2027 class recently received offers on ND’s annual ‘Pot of Gold’ Day. Further showcasing the proactive approach of Freeman’s staff in shaping the future.
With numerous players in the mix, let’s observe how Marcus Freeman navigates the situation to secure his preferred recruits.
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